Preview: Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United

This week’s ABC TV match pits in-form champions Melbourne Victory against an Adelaide United side that is struggling for momentum, though capable of surprising the best in the competition.

Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United

Sunday 12 October 2014

Lakeside Stadium, Melbourne

Local kick-off: 3pm

* Catch all the action Live at 3.00pm nationally on ABC1. Or from Monday on ABC iView with a full replay at 3.30am on Tuesday.

** Listen LIVE on FFV Radio from 2.30pm. Head to www.footballfedvic.com.au or search 'FFV Radio' in the TuneIn smartphone app.

Join the conversation on Twitter using match hashtag #MVCvADL

The pair’s form could hardly be starker. The Victory have nailed ten goals in their past three undefeated outings, while the Lady Reds have scored just once this season and crashed to an unexpected 4-0 loss against Newcastle Jets last Sunday.

History offers little solace for the visitors who have lost all ten matches against the Victory; the only such record among all the foundation clubs in the Westfield W-League.

The Victory opened their campaign with a surprise defeat at last year’s wooden-spooners Newcastle Jets, but have bounced back in style with goal-laden wins over Western Sydney Wanderers and Canberra United, followed up by a gutsy draw at Sydney FC in last Monday’s public holiday match.

The Victory have proven performers all over the park with Westfield Matildas stars such as Steph Catley, Lisa De Vanna and Brianna Davey, backed by a highly impressive trio of American imports in Christine Nairn, Elli Reed and Lauren Barnes. Nairn, in particular, has been a revelation and her tight ball control and vision has laid on an incredible seven goals in the past three matches.

Victory striker Racheal Quigley will be hoping to recover from a dose of concussion so as to take her place in the starting side, and thus take on Adelaide for the first time since making the move across the border during the off-season.

Adelaide will still be smarting from that hefty 4-0 defeat against the visiting Jets last weekend; their worse defeat during Ross Aloisi’s tenure. However, the Lady Reds are a resilient and proud bunch, and it would be shock if they didn’t bounce-back in Melbourne on Sunday offering a hard-fought contest for armchair fans to enjoy.

Local supporters have every reason to get out in force with free entry on offer to a double-header at Lakeside Stadium. The Westfield W-League clash will be followed by the Victorian Women’s Premier League grand final between South Melbourne and Heidelberg United with entry free to a great afternoon’s entertainment.